"Naming"

Part 2

 

Healer Slate held the pale, newborn baby squirrel to his chest as he wiped the birthing muck from his eyes and nose with a clover leaf. The little squirrel blinked up at the Healer and made a squeaking sound in his throat.

 

Feather stared at the plump white newborn, an equal mixture of horror and fascination washing across her face. She glanced over at her husband, Dusk, who held their two gray newborns in his lap. He looked just as dumbfounded as she felt.

 

Feather's gaze shifted back to Healer Slate. "Is he--okay?"

 

The old squirrel grunted. "He seems healthy. He's hefty enough."

 

The Healer looked down into the white squirrel's eyes, squinting as he examined them.

 

"Oh, stars! His eyes..."

 

"What is it?" Feather asked, alarmed.

 

"His eyes...they're as red as blood."

 

Dusk stood up and crossed the burrow to hand the gray newborns to Feather. She accepted them gingerly as her husband edged closer to the Healer.

 

The old squirrel handed the robust newborn to Dusk, and the little white squirrel gazed up into his father's eyes.

 

"Red and pink--I've never seen anything like it."

 

Dusk glanced up at Healer Slate, a questioning look etched across his face.

 

"I have heard of a white deer who walks these woods, but I have never seen it." The Healer placed a reassuring paw on Dusk's shoulder. "Do not worry, my friend. Perhaps he is destined for something great."

 

Feather and Dusk looked at one another. Dusk turned and brought the pale baby to Feather's side.

 

"What shall we name him, my love?" he asked.

 

Feather gazed upon the little white squirrel with the bright red eyes.

 

"He is the color of snow, but he has eyes of fire. How about Storm? He reminds me of a winter storm."

 

Dusk smiled. "Storm it is."